France bans politicians from hiring family members

France on Thursday banned politicians from hiring family members, one of the first major pieces of legislation to be passed since Emmanuel Macron became president, local media reported.

The measure was approved by parliament after a series of votes on Wednesday night and Thursday.

Last month, then Justice Minister François Bayrou proposed the rule change as part of Macron's effort to reform French politics. Bayrou said at the time that the measure would restore the public's confidence in politicians.

The legislation comes on the heels of a major graft scandal involving former prime minister François Fillon and his British wife, Penelope. The one-time conservative presidential candidate allegedly paid his wife and children hundreds of thousands of euros for work they may have not done.